Letter: Okinawa: Now that was an armada

June 6 marked the 64th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy in World War II, a monumental undertaking to free Europe from the grasp of fascism and a madman bent on world conquest.

A vast armada was assembled as the Allies landed by boat as well as glider and parachute. Two hundred eighty-four warships supported seven divisions, and 155,000 troops of the United States, Britain and Canada. 480,000 tons of supplies were put ashore to support those troops.

Normandy was the greatest endeavor to date in World War II, and is currently touted as the greatest and largest amphibious invasion in U.S. history.

This is one of the many fallacies perpetuated by the politically correct history being taught today, and supported by historically inaccurate movies.

Ten months after the Allied invasion of Normandy, the United States invaded Okinawa in April 1945. Okinawa was an island fortress defended by more than 100,000 Japanese troops.

Unlike Normandy, Okinawa was conducted solely by U.S. troops.

Three hundred twenty-seven warships were present to support more than 183,000 troops. The U.S. Navy suffered its worst casualties of the war at Okinawa, not to mention the largest loss of warships in a single engagement.

Thirty-nine warships were sunk and over 100 more damaged with over 5,000 sailors killed or wounded.

Any true student of history will concede that Normandy was not the largest amphibious invasion in U. S. history, Okinawa holds that distinction.